Film about sean nós singer gets Oscar nomination

A feature film about a Connemara sean nós singer has been selected as Ireland’s entry in the best foreign language category at the Oscars.

Song of Granite, which tells the story of sean nós singer Joe Heaney, edged out Rocky Ros Muc, the biopic of Sean Mannion, and Aithrí (Penance), which stars Love/Hate’s Peter Coonan as a priest who gets involved in the Rising.

Song of Granite, directed by Pat Collins, has documentary footage and performances by Irish musicians such as Damien Dempsey, Lisa O’Neill and Seamus Begley.

Pat Collins said Heaney had been a great advocate and teacher of Irish traditional singing to students all over America.

“He remains one of the great traditional singers. I think he would have liked the notion of a film with sean nós singing at its core representing Ireland in an international competition like the Oscars,” he said.

Heaney moved from Galway to Dublin after winning a school scholarship. Later he went to London and America, performing at the Newport Folk Festival.

Joe Heanue was eventually appointed a lecturer in traditional singing and heritage in the University of Seattle in Washington State. He died in 1984.

Song of Granite had its world premiere at the SXSW festival in Texas this year, receiving positive reviews in film-trade publications.

The film was commissioned by TG4. The script writing was by Pat Collins, Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde and Sharon Whooley, and the principal roles are taken by MacDara Ó Fatharta, Colm Seoige, Micheál Ó Confhaola (songs) and Pól Ó Ceannabháin (songs).

The Irish Film and Television Academy is responsible for selecting Ireland’s entry.